Cloud Computing and AWS Overview

Questions and Answers

What is the primary benefit of using AWS Lambda over traditional VMs like EC2?

Lambda enables automatic scaling of infrastructure. (correct)

Lambda requires customers to manage physical servers.

Lambda offers extensive manual configuration options.

Lambda provides a subscription model for pricing.

Which service was introduced by AWS to enable serverless container management?

Amazon EC2 Container Registry

Amazon EC2

AWS Fargate (correct)

AWS CodeBuild

What does the term 'function-as-a-service' (FaaS) relate to?

A method for running traditional VMs.

A way to run code without managing servers. (correct)

A model for deploying containerized applications.

A subscription service for physical servers.

Which AWS service allows running petabyte-scale data warehouses without managing a server?

Amazon Redshift Serverless Signup and view all the answers

What drives AWS to continuously enhance its EC2 offerings?

The improvement of CPU cores and memory chips. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Amazon EC2 from traditional physical servers?

EC2 allows resources to be allocated and de-allocated rapidly. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes AWS EC2's billing model?

Per-second billing based on resource usage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key outcome of AWS Lambda's abstraction of server management?

Focus on code and business logic instead of infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

Which infrastructure was AWS EC2 initially developed for?

Amazon’s internal infrastructure Signup and view all the answers

In what year was AWS Lambda launched?

2014 Signup and view all the answers

What type of instances were introduced to EC2 in October 2007?

Large and Extra-Large Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main reasons customers are adopting serverless compute services?

Cost-effectiveness and scalability. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following phrases accurately captures the distinction between 'compute' and 'server' in AWS terminology?

'Compute' encompasses serverless options and other forms of processing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of the Nitro hypervisor for EC2 instances?

It offloads security functions to improve performance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes EC2's SLA commitment?

99.99% availability for each Region. Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is best suited for workloads requiring burstable performance?

t2.small Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following families does not belong to the General Purpose category?

C7 Signup and view all the answers

What does the naming convention 'c7g.8xlarge' indicate about the instance?

It belongs to the Compute Optimized family with Graviton technology. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Nitro Enclaves feature?

To run security functions on separate processors for added protection. Signup and view all the answers

What is crucial about the CPU credits in burstable performance instances?

Each credit allows one full CPU core performance for one minute. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the characteristic purpose of the General Purpose instance family?

Balances CPU, memory, and network resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the advantages of the Nitro offload cards?

They relieve the CPU to improve workload performance. Signup and view all the answers

What types of applications are typically run on General Purpose instances?

Web servers and containerized microservices. Signup and view all the answers

Which instance family would likely be the best choice for memory-intensive applications?

Memory Optimized Signup and view all the answers

How many global Availability Zones does EC2 serve?

76 Signup and view all the answers

Which processor type is associated with the T4g instance?

AWS Graviton 2 Signup and view all the answers

When do CPU credits get earned in burstable instances?

During periods of inactivity. Signup and view all the answers

How many credits does a t2.small instance accrue per hour when idle?

24 credits Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a t2.small instance exceeds its credit allotment?

Extra charges are applied but it can still operate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instance types is specifically designed for high-performance computing workloads?

hpc6a Signup and view all the answers

What type of tasks are Accelerated Computing instances particularly suited for?

Graphics processing and machine learning Signup and view all the answers

Which processor is used in the latest Graviton-based C6 instances?

Graviton 3 Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary use case for A1 instances?

Scale-out workloads with open-source languages Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type provides up to 400 Gbps of networking throughput?

P4 instances Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the F1 instance family?

Relies on FPGAs for custom hardware acceleration Signup and view all the answers

What processor architecture do A1 instances use?

ARM Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is classified under the Compute Optimized family?

C5 Signup and view all the answers

What is a core feature of the M family EC2 instances?

Good balance of compute, memory, and network resources Signup and view all the answers

What workload type would the C7g instance be most suitable for?

High-performance computing Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type would be most appropriate for intensive machine learning tasks?

G5 instances Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism allows Hpc6a instances to deliver low-cost high-performance computing?

Elastic Fabric Adapter technology Signup and view all the answers

What significant advantage do Graviton processors provide for AWS EC2 instances?

Customization for specific workload needs Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the AWS Nitro hypervisor?

To improve performance by eliminating overhead Signup and view all the answers

Which generation of Graviton processors offers up to 7x better performance than its predecessor?

Graviton 2 Signup and view all the answers

What notable feature does AWS EC2 offer regarding its instances?

EC2 offers over 400 different instance types Signup and view all the answers

Which processors has AWS used since 2006 for its EC2 instances?

Intel processors Signup and view all the answers

Why is it recommended to use Graviton-backed instances wherever possible?

They offer better price and performance Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential cost saving when using Amazon EC2 M6g instances compared to x86-based instances?

40% Signup and view all the answers

What does auto-scaling in AWS EC2 help manage?

The automatic increase of instances based on demand Signup and view all the answers

What kind of processors did AWS launch in 2018 for its instances?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which EC2 instance types are powered by the AWS Graviton 2 processors?

M6g, C6g, and R6g Signup and view all the answers

What level of memory can high memory instances support in AWS EC2?

Up to 24 terabytes Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of having a hypervisor-free EC2 instance?

Higher performance and lower latency Signup and view all the answers

What is one feature of NVIDIA chips in AWS EC2?

For providing choices in machine learning training Signup and view all the answers

How many vCPUs do EC2 A1 instances based on Graviton processors support?

Up to 16 vCPUs Signup and view all the answers

What change has occurred in the classification of EC2 instance types over the years?

Classification has remained unchanged with models evolving Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of instances allowed per Region in an AWS account by default?

20 instances per Region Signup and view all the answers

How many Elastic IP addresses are allowed per Region in an AWS account by default?

5 Elastic IPs per Region Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended practice for backing up EC2 resources?

Use EBS snapshots periodically Signup and view all the answers

What does Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) primarily help with in AWS?

Distributing incoming traffic among EC2 instances Signup and view all the answers

What indicates an unhealthy EC2 instance during an ELB health check?

A response outside the 200 range Signup and view all the answers

What components make up ELB rules?

Conditions and actions Signup and view all the answers

What is a target group in the context of ELB?

A set of instances that handle incoming requests Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of ELB determines the order in which rules are evaluated?

Priorities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary function of a listener rule?

Forwarding requests to specific servers Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about AMIs is true?

AMIs can be used as templates for future instances. Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of deploying application components across multiple Availability Zones?

Increased availability and durability Signup and view all the answers

How is traffic routed when a specific ELB rule’s condition matches?

To a specific target group that matches the rule Signup and view all the answers

Which protocol does a target group in ELB define for its instances?

Target protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP Signup and view all the answers

What method does the Classic Load Balancer utilize by default to distribute traffic?

Round robin Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key advantages of the least connections method in load balancing?

It balances traffic across instances with varying capacities. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of IT budgets is typically spent on maintaining existing infrastructure?

85% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a routing capability of the Application Load Balancer?

IP address routing Signup and view all the answers

At which OSI model layer does the Classic Load Balancer operate?

Layer 4 Signup and view all the answers

What service is primarily associated with serverless computing in AWS?

AWS Lambda Signup and view all the answers

Which AWS service helps distribute incoming application traffic across multiple targets?

Amazon Elastic Load Balancing Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the Classic Load Balancer’s port mapping requirement is true?

It requires a fixed relationship between instance port and load balancer port. Signup and view all the answers

What feature does the Application Load Balancer provide that aids in reducing the workload on application servers?

SSL/TLS termination Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of servers in cloud computing as described?

They remain necessary for serverless architectures. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature allows the Application Load Balancer to route traffic based on the request's content?

Query string parameters Signup and view all the answers

What concept did cloud computing initially provide that was similar to traditional computing?

On-demand servers hosted in data centers Signup and view all the answers

What do hybrid compute options in AWS allow organizations to do?

Use both cloud and local resources effectively Signup and view all the answers

What is one limitation of Classic Load Balancers in terms of routing capabilities?

They do not use host-based routing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a compute option in AWS?

Amazon RDS Signup and view all the answers

Which load balancing algorithm can the Application Load Balancer also utilize aside from round robin?

Least outstanding requests Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of the Application Load Balancer in handling modern web applications?

It offers advanced routing capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significant transformation brought by cloud computing to data centers?

A shift from physical servers to virtual machines Signup and view all the answers

What does the Classic Load Balancer ensure regarding the source IP address and instance routing?

Consistent routing to the same instance for the same IP. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an optimal practice when using Classic Load Balancers?

Using only one EC2 instance to support the load. Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential component of an AMI for an EC2 instance?

EBS snapshot or template for the root volume Signup and view all the answers

Which practice is recommended for securing access to EC2 instances?

Utilizing identity federation and IAM policies Signup and view all the answers

What happens to data stored in an instance store when the EC2 instance is shut down?

The data is lost permanently Signup and view all the answers

What is the key benefit of using EBS-backed volumes compared to instance stores?

Data persistence after instance shutdown Signup and view all the answers

What are resource tags in AWS used for?

To classify and group AWS resources Signup and view all the answers

How are AWS limits categorized?

Soft limits and hard limits Signup and view all the answers

What is a best practice for data management when using EC2 instances?

Storing data in a cluster with a replication strategy Signup and view all the answers

What should be done before a critical EC2 limit is reached?

Request an increase in the limit from AWS Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of launch permissions in an AMI?

To control which AWS accounts can use the AMI Signup and view all the answers

What might happen if EC2 instance changes are not maintained regularly?

It may lead to security vulnerabilities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following practices will help optimize EC2 service operations?

Regularly rotating and revoking access credentials Signup and view all the answers

What type of metadata can be associated with an EC2 instance?

User data for instance-specific configurations Signup and view all the answers

What should be done with credentials assigned in IAM for EC2 instances?

Rotate and distribute them regularly Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to understand the limits set by AWS for EC2?

They help prevent unexpected charges and security risks. Signup and view all the answers

Which load balancer operates at Layer 4 of the OSI model?

Network Load Balancer (NLB) Signup and view all the answers

What feature is unique to the Application Load Balancer (ALB)?

Path-based routing Signup and view all the answers

Which load balancer can automatically recover from failed targets?

Network Load Balancer (NLB) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the Classic Load Balancer (CLB)?

It supports both Layer 4 and Layer 7 traffic. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Network Load Balancer (NLB) determine 'availability'?

Through an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) ping Signup and view all the answers

Which load balancer is best suited for web applications and microservices?

Application Load Balancer (ALB) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a listener rule in ELB?

To specify the protocol and port for incoming traffic Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB)?

Providing scalable load balancing for virtual network appliances Signup and view all the answers

How do target group rules optimize traffic across EC2 instances?

By balancing traffic based on connection count or response time Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Network Load Balancer (NLB) from other load balancers?

It does not analyze request headers. Signup and view all the answers

What is host-based routing primarily used for?

To direct requests based on specific domain names Signup and view all the answers

Which load balancer cannot distinguish traffic for different applications if they share the same port?

Network Load Balancer (NLB) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a routing feature of the NLB?

Source IP affinity Signup and view all the answers

In path-based routing, how does routing work?

Based on the substring in the URL path Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would it be advised to avoid using a Classic Load Balancer (CLB)?

In cases requiring advanced routing features. Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using query string rules for routing?

They enable routing traffic based on URL's key-value parameters Signup and view all the answers

Which type of load balancer was introduced by AWS in August 2016?

Application Load Balancer Signup and view all the answers

What type of routing does the Application Load Balancer (ALB) support?

Path-based routing for incoming requests Signup and view all the answers

What layer does the Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB) operate at?

Layer 3 Signup and view all the answers

What does the Network Load Balancer primarily improve in comparison to other ELBs?

Ability to handle sudden spikes in traffic Signup and view all the answers

What is a key functionality of path-based routing in load balancing?

Diverting traffic based on request path patterns Signup and view all the answers

Why might developers prefer host-based routing?

It allows multiple services under one domain Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes query string rules in ELB?

They allow routing based on key-value pairs in the URL Signup and view all the answers

In the context of ELB, what does the term 'target group' refer to?

The resources receiving traffic from a load balancer Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is specifically built for training deep learning models with AWS Trainium?

Trn1 Signup and view all the answers

Which ELB type is best suited for handling WebSockets and real-time applications?

Network Load Balancer Signup and view all the answers

What role does the load balancer serve when utilizing path-based routing?

Distributing the traffic based on path patterns to designated target groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of VT1 instances?

Video transcoding Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type offers the highest memory-to-compute ratio?

X1e Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instance families is optimized for sequential read-write workloads?

Storage Optimized Signup and view all the answers

What significant cost benefit do RIs (Reserved Instances) provide?

Discount of up to 72% off On-Demand prices Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the R6 instance types is accurate?

R6g uses the Graviton 2 chip. Signup and view all the answers

How much memory per server can High Memory instances provide?

24 TB Signup and view all the answers

What enhancement do I4 instances offer compared to I3 instances?

Lower latency Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the H1 and D3 instance types?

Form part of the dense storage family of servers Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of AWS’s new EC2 Instance Type Explorer?

It helps navigate and discover EC2 instances. Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is specifically equipped with local access to high-capacity HDD?

H1 Signup and view all the answers

What type of cloud pricing model is best for fluctuating workloads?

On-Demand pricing Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type provides both high compute capacity and a high memory footprint optimized for electronic design automation?

z1d Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is unique to the I4 instance family compared to I3 or I3en instances?

Always-on encryption for data at rest Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of the Convertible RI when exchanging instances?

It must be of an equal or higher value than the one being exchanged. Signup and view all the answers

What is one benefit of using Savings Plans over Reserved Instances?

They offer flexibility across Fargate, EC2, and AWS Lambda. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Spot Instances?

They can be terminated without warning if needed. Signup and view all the answers

What primary function does AWS Compute Optimizer serve?

To suggest instance types based on workloads' resource utilization. Signup and view all the answers

How does Compute Optimizer enhance decision-making for instance types?

By simulating performance metrics on recommended instances. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect must be specified when launching an EC2 instance using an AMI?

The operating system and architecture. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following operating systems is NOT supported by AMIs?

Android OS Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage can be specified for the root device when choosing an AMI?

Amazon EBS and instance store. Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario are Spot Instances most beneficial?

For stateless or fault-tolerant workloads. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage do Savings Plans offer over On-Demand pricing?

They can provide up to 72% savings. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is correct regarding AMI launch permissions?

An AMI can have explicit or implicit launch permissions. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when an EC2 instance is assigned a Spot Instance?

It may be interrupted when EC2 needs to reclaim it. Signup and view all the answers

What crucial information does an AMI contain?

The information needed to start an instance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) over a Classic Load Balancer (CLB)?

Support for AWS Web Application Firewall (AWS WAF) Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario would you most likely opt for a Network Load Balancer (NLB)?

When managing static IPs is required Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of serverless computing?

Pay-as-you-go billing model Signup and view all the answers

Why might an organization continue using Classic Load Balancers (CLBs) despite the introduction of ALBs?

Compatibility with existing legacy applications Signup and view all the answers

What does connection draining allow you to do with load balancer instances?

Gracefully remove instances while completing transactions Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is unique to Network Load Balancers (NLBs)?

Support for IP address-based target registration Signup and view all the answers

What describes one of the primary advantages of AWS Lambda?

It is event-driven and requires no server management Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately depicts a feature of Application Load Balancers (ALBs)?

They are better suited for HTTP and HTTPS traffic Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant reason for adopting serverless applications in cloud environments?

Higher productivity by reducing infrastructure management Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about idle connection timeouts in load balancers?

They terminate connections that exceed the predefined time without traffic Signup and view all the answers

Which AWS service can be integrated with AWS Lambda for seamless functionality?

Amazon S3 Signup and view all the answers

For which application scenario would using a Network Load Balancer (NLB) be most ideal?

High volume TCP traffic for a gaming application Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of connection draining in load balancers?

To gracefully end active sessions and remove instances Signup and view all the answers

Why is high availability an important feature of serverless architectures like AWS Lambda?

It ensures functions can run even during outages Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main roles of EC2 in the AWS ecosystem?

Providing the foundational compute service Signup and view all the answers

Which feature of EC2 is essential for optimizing workload distribution across multiple servers?

Load balancers Signup and view all the answers

Which serverless compute options are highlighted as the most popular in AWS?

AWS Lambda and AWS Fargate Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does hybrid compute offer for AWS workloads?

Integration of AWS infrastructure on-premises Signup and view all the answers

Which service underpins sophisticated services like Amazon SageMaker and Amazon DynamoDB?

Amazon EC2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an AMI in relation to EC2?

Operating system selection for instances Signup and view all the answers

What feature is associated with improving computing power for complex problems on AWS?

High-Performance Computing (HPC) Signup and view all the answers

Which component is crucial for effective AWS compute optimization?

Choosing the right compute option Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of using AWS Lambda for processing uploaded images?

It processes images without requiring underlying infrastructure management. Signup and view all the answers

How does AWS Fargate improve cost efficiency for deploying containerized applications?

By allowing customers to provision resources based on specific task needs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the serverless nature of AWS Fargate?

It runs each task in a dedicated host, removing infrastructure complexity. Signup and view all the answers

What primary function does AWS Lambda serve in serverless computing?

It acts as a compute service responding to events. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Fargate Spot pricing?

It provides a flat discount rate for tasks on EC2 Spot instances. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tasks is simplified by using AWS ECS with Fargate?

Automating the orchestration of containers without infrastructure management. Signup and view all the answers

What role does Amazon EKS serve when used with Fargate?

It offers serverless hosting for Kubernetes workloads. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of AWS Lambda's pricing model is particularly attractive to users?

Users are charged for every request and duration in ms increments. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main advantages of utilizing serverless architecture with tools like AWS Lambda?

It reduces costs, size, and risk related to infrastructure changes. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of AWS, what does 'NoOps' refer to?

An architecture eliminating the need for operations management. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of utilizing Amazon S3 in conjunction with AWS Lambda?

To automatically trigger Lambda functions on image upload. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'high-performance computing' (HPC) signify?

Employing specialized hardware and software for complex problems. Signup and view all the answers

Which security feature is designed into Fargate to enhance task safety?

Running each task in its dedicated host for isolation. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key feature of AWS ECS in relation to container management?

It provides a simple managed control plane for containers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a tightly coupled HPC workload?

Reservoir simulation Signup and view all the answers

What primary function does AWS ParallelCluster serve for HPC applications?

To manage and deploy HPC clusters on AWS Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is most important for running tightly coupled HPC workloads?

Low latency communication Signup and view all the answers

Which AWS service is specifically designed for batch computing workloads?

AWS Batch Signup and view all the answers

In the context of HPC, which of the following best describes a scale-out workload?

Characterized by multiple nodes working independently Signup and view all the answers

What is a key challenge faced when maintaining on-premises HPC infrastructure?

Complex configuration and maintenance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following AWS services helps to improve the performance of HPC workloads requiring low-latency communication?

Amazon Elastic Fabric Adapter Signup and view all the answers

Which type of applications would benefit least from hybrid cloud services?

Batch processing workflows Signup and view all the answers

For which use case would AWS EC2 P3 instances be most appropriate?

Large-scale data analytics and machine learning Signup and view all the answers

Which situation would necessitate the use of AWS Direct Connect?

Connecting cloud services with on-premises applications Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consequence of maintaining separate code bases for cloud and on-premises infrastructures?

Increased complexity and friction in operations Signup and view all the answers

Which workload type is not typically associated with HPC applications?

E-commerce transaction processing Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of using AWS hybrid cloud services?

They allow for better management of latency-sensitive applications Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately reflects the nature of fluid dynamics in relation to HPC workloads?

It is a tightly coupled workload requiring high performance Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of AWS Outposts?

To bring a consistent AWS experience to on-premises locations. Signup and view all the answers

Which workloads are best suited for AWS Outposts?

Compute-intensive and latency-sensitive workloads. Signup and view all the answers

How does VMware Cloud on AWS benefit users with VMware-based workloads?

It allows easy migration of VMware workloads to the cloud. Signup and view all the answers

Which deployment scenario is NOT associated with AWS Outposts?

Managing large-scale public cloud applications. Signup and view all the answers

What feature allows VMware Cloud on AWS to support hybrid environments?

Ease of migrating workloads between on-premises and cloud. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the type of services available with AWS Outposts?

Services that allow running Amazon EC2 instances locally. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does AWS Nitro-based Amazon EC2 provide when used with Outposts?

It simplifies local data access and manages diverse workloads. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key considerations for using Outposts in a healthcare setting?

Need for efficient assessment of patient images. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the hardware specifications of AWS Outposts servers?

1-2 rack units high and can fit into standard EIA-310 racks. Signup and view all the answers

What role does Amazon VPC play in the context of AWS Outposts?

It allows logical separation and secure communication within workloads. Signup and view all the answers

Which service would you use for running a disaster recovery environment with VMware workloads?

VMware Cloud on AWS. Signup and view all the answers

How do AWS Outposts and VMware Cloud on AWS differ in functionality?

Outposts provides a native AWS experience, VMware focuses on VMware environments. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary reason for users to adopt VMware Cloud on AWS?

To retain familiarity while migrating to the cloud. Signup and view all the answers

What should guide the choice of older EC2 instance types over newer ones?

Availability of specific AMIs or dependencies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following acronyms could help remember EC2 instance types?

Fight Czar MXPD Signup and view all the answers

How does the computational spending on EC2 compare to other IaaS expenses?

Approximately two-thirds of IaaS spending goes towards compute. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for introducing new EC2 instance types?

New instances allow for better performance at a lower cost. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the nature of General Purpose EC2 instances?

They serve as a general starting point for various applications. Signup and view all the answers

When might a user still choose to utilize older EC2 instance types?

If they require specific configurations and AMIs not compatible with newer types. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the challenges users face with the wide variety of EC2 instances?

Finding suitable instance sizes that match specific needs. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to influence the decision to choose a specific EC2 instance type?

Personal preference for instance naming conventions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the default mode for t3 instances regarding CPU credits?

Unlimited mode Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is best suited for applications requiring high compute capacity with low memory requirements?

c5 instance type Signup and view all the answers

What mnemonic is used to remember the purpose of the m5 instance type?

Main choice or happy medium Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is specifically designed for machine learning inference applications?

Inf1 instance Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the a1 instance type?

Arm-based processors for scale-out workloads Signup and view all the answers

For which type of workload is the r instance family optimized?

In-memory databases and big data processing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instance types offers customizable hardware acceleration?

F1 instance type Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the z1d instance type?

High compute capacity with high memory footprint Signup and view all the answers

Which family of instances is particularly suited for video editing and machine learning tasks?

p instance type Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is specifically advantageous for applications with high per-core licensing costs?

z1d instance type Signup and view all the answers

What does the m mnemonic stand for regarding EC2 instance types?

Main choice Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instance types is SSD-backed for storage optimization?

i3 instance type Signup and view all the answers

The c5d option of c5 instances is primarily known for what feature?

SSD storage Signup and view all the answers

Which instance type is considered the most versatile among Amazon EC2 options?

m5 instance type Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cloud Computing Overview

Enterprises allocate an average of 15% of IT budgets to innovation, while 85% is focused on existing infrastructure maintenance.
Data centers utilize servers for IT workloads, consuming significant effort and budget.
The AWS compute platform reallocates budgets from maintenance to innovation.

AWS Compute Services

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) provides on-demand virtual machines charged by the second.
EC2 handles physical server management while users focus on application development.
AWS Lambda launched in 2014 as a serverless compute option, allowing code execution without server management.

Evolution of Serverless Compute

AWS Fargate enables running Docker containers without server management, launched in 2017.
Enhanced serverless options such as Amazon Redshift Serverless and EMR Serverless target analytics workloads.
Serverless compute emphasizes flexibility and scalability, abstracting server management from users.

Amazon EC2

EC2 standardizes infrastructure management and security, facilitating rapid service delivery.
Initially developed for Amazon’s internal use by Chris Pinkham, public beta launched in August 2006.
EC2 supports various instance types optimized for different workloads and applications.

EC2 Instance Types

Over 400 instance types cater to diverse needs, defined by a combination of memory, CPU, GPU, and storage capabilities.
Instance types adapt to technological advancements in CPUs and memory, with constant improvements in offerings.
AWS utilizes Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and proprietary Graviton processors for EC2 instances.

AWS Graviton Processors

Graviton processors, launched in 2018, enhance performance and cost-effectiveness for cloud workloads.
Graviton 2, released in 2019, provides significantly improved performance and memory capabilities.
Graviton instances can deliver up to 40% cost savings while maintaining high performance.

Advantages of Amazon EC2

Extensive selection of instance types to suit various workloads, from T3 instances to instances with 96 processors.
Scalability allows users to adjust resources dynamically, with auto-scaling based on defined metrics.
Nitro technology enhances performance by offloading network and storage management tasks, ultimately improving responsiveness.

Reliability and Security

EC2 operates across 24 Regions and over 76 Availability Zones, ensuring a 99.99% SLA commitment for availability.
Security standards are stringent, with default security measures established for every instance, minimizing attack surfaces.

EC2 Instance Families

EC2 is categorized into five families: General Purpose, Compute Optimized, Accelerated Computing, Memory Optimized, and Storage Optimized.
Each family offers various instance types optimized for specific workloads, allowing for tailored infrastructure solutions.
Instance naming conventions indicate characteristics such as processor type and performance level.

General Purpose Instances

General Purpose instances balance CPU, memory, and network capabilities, suitable for web servers and microservices.
Includes burstable T family instances which allow for performance boosts through earned CPU credits for intermittent workloads.### EC2 Instance Types and Performance
T2.small instances utilize burstable credits, consuming 1 credit per minute during high CPU performance workloads. After credits run out, performance returns to baseline.
Exceeding credit allotment incurs extra charges, but still allows processing of requests.
M family instances (M4, M5, M6) offer a balance of compute, memory, and network resources, supporting multiple processors: Intel Xeon, Graviton 2, and AMD.

Specialized EC2 Instances

A1 instances are powered by Graviton processors, suitable for scale-out workloads, particularly with open-source programming languages (e.g., Java, Ruby, Python).
Mac instances are built on AWS Nitro, offering access to macOS for development with Apple's Xcode IDE.
C series (C7, HPC6a) are Compute Optimized instances meant for compute-intensive tasks like high-performance computing, video processing, and machine learning.

Accelerated Computing Instances

Accelerated Computing instances (P4, G5, F1) include GPUs for intensive processing tasks, such as graphics and machine learning.
P family (P2, P3, P4) instances facilitate machine learning with multiple NVIDIA GPUs, drastically reducing training time.
G5 instances are tailored for machine learning using NVIDIA A10G for versatile graphics and modeling.

Memory and Storage Optimization

R family (R6, X2) are designed for memory-intensive applications, supporting real-time analytics and in-memory databases.
X2 instances achieve up to 50% better price-performance than X1 instances, with High Memory instances offering up to 24 TB RAM.
Storage Optimized instances (H1, D3, I4) provide high disk performance and include HDDs for large datasets. D3 significantly accelerates read/write operations compared to D2.

Pricing Models and Optimization

The EC2 pricing model includes On-Demand (pay per use), Reserved Instances (long-term discounts), Savings Plans (flexible spending across services), and Spot Instances (up to 90% off but can be interrupted).
Recommended for varying workloads, combining options optimizes cost and performance, as seen in an e-commerce context with auto-scaling.

AWS Compute Optimizer

AWS Compute Optimizer analyzes over 140 instance types and suggests cost-effective options based on workload utilization.
It employs machine learning to make instance size recommendations, allowing performance simulation to assess compliance before implementing new instance types.

Amazon Machine Images (AMIs)

AMIs are essential for launching instances, containing OS configuration, launch permissions, and root storage details.
Supported operating systems include various distributions like Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Windows Server with multiple architecture options (e.g., 64-bit).

Best Practices for EC2

Access management involves using Identity and Access Management (IAM) with least privilege principles for users and roles.
Regular OS maintenance is crucial, as users are responsible for security and updates.
Data management varies by storage type; EBS-backed instances retain data post shutdown, while instance storage does not.### Data Persistence in EC2 Instances
Instance store data is lost upon instance shutdown; for persistent storage, use an EBS volume or S3 bucket.
EBS volumes provide mountable storage that maintains data post-shutdown, albeit at a lower speed compared to instance stores.
Recommended practice: allocate one EBS volume for the OS and another for data.
For instance storage persistence, implement a replication strategy using tools like Hadoop or Spark across multiple EC2 instances.

Resource Management in EC2

AWS allows tagging of instances with metadata to organize and manage resources effectively.
Tags can include information such as department, billing, and security groups.
Tags assist in differentiating workloads for automation and billing purposes.

AWS Limits and Management

AWS enforces service limits to prevent unexpected costs and unauthorized access.
Soft limits (e.g., 5 for Amazon VPC) can be increased upon request; hard limits refer to strict caps.
Default limits include 20 instances and 5 Elastic IPs per region, which can be adjusted with AWS support.

Backup and Recovery in EC2

Backup strategy essential for EBS volumes includes using EBS snapshots and AMIs for instance configurations.
Deploy critical components across multiple Availability Zones to enhance application availability.
Elastic IP allows for fixed IP assignment to maintain traffic routing during failover scenarios.
Test failover solutions to ensure minimal disruption during backup instance activation.

Amazon Elastic Load Balancing (ELB)

ELB offers advantages in distribution of traffic, enhancing scalability and reliability across EC2 instances.
ELB conducts health checks on instances to monitor their availability; unhealthy instances stop receiving traffic.

Types and Rules of ELB

ELB rules consist of conditions (criteria for routing) and actions (what to do if criteria is met).
Listener rules forward traffic based on protocol and port, while target group rules manage traffic distribution.
Host-based routing allows directing traffic to specific services using domain names; path-based routing directs traffic based on URL paths.
Query string rules enable routing based on key-value pairs in URL parameters.

Elastic Load Balancer Types

Classic Load Balancer (CLB) uses methods like round robin, least connections, and IP hashing for traffic routing; considered legacy.
Application Load Balancer (ALB) operates at Layer 7, allowing content-based routing based on HTTP request features like URL path and headers.
ALBs support advanced load balancing techniques and improve resource management for applications.

AWS EC2 Instance Types Overview

AWS EC2 instances are categorized into various types optimized for specific purposes, crucial for efficient IaaS spending.
Approximately two-thirds of IaaS spending is allocated to compute resources, underscoring the importance of EC2.
Familiarity with EC2 instance types and sizes is essential for effective cloud resource management.

Instance Generations and Options

New EC2 instance types include A1, T3, z1d, high memory, R5, G4, and F1, released since 2018.
Older generation instances (e.g., c4, c3) remain available, but newer models generally offer superior performance and cost-effectiveness.
Instances can be chosen based on specific usage needs and may have dependencies on older AMIs.

General Purpose Instances

t instance type: T3 family is a burstable instance type ideal for applications with variable usage, generating CPU credits when idle. T3 runs in unlimited mode by default.
m instance type: M5 offers a balanced mix of CPU, memory, and disk; it's the most versatile option used by nearly half of EC2 workloads. M6g instances utilize Arm-based processors for cost efficiency.
a1 instance type: Announced in 2018, designed for scale-out workloads like web servers and microservices, powered by Arm processors.

Compute Optimized Instances

c instance type: C5 is suited for compute-intensive applications, offering high compute-to-memory ratios. Variants include C5d (SSD-backed) and C5n (higher bandwidth capabilities).

Memory Optimized Instances

r instance family: Designed for memory-intensive tasks — ideal for in-memory databases and data processing. Variants include R5a (cost-efficient) and R5n (enhanced network performance).
x1 instance family: Offers a higher memory ratio for applications needing extreme RAM, such as high-performance databases.
High Memory instance family: Specifically for large in-memory databases like SAP HANA.
z1d instance family: Combines high compute capacity and memory, suitable for high-performance workloads with a clock speed of up to 4.0 GHz.

Accelerated Computing Instances

p instance type: P3 instances are designed for GPU-intensive applications, serving various use cases from video editing to machine learning.
Inf1 instance type: Tailored for machine learning inference applications like recommendation systems and advanced analytics.
g instance type: Utilizes GPUs for graphics-intensive tasks including video transcoding and game streaming. G4 is the latest variant.
F1 instance type: Features customizable hardware acceleration with FPGAs, applicable in fields such as genomics and real-time video processing.

Storage Optimized Instances

i3 instance type: SSD-backed type ideal for NoSQL databases and in-memory applications, with an enhanced option (i3en) for higher network bandwidth.
d2 instance type: Optimized for massive storage needs, suitable for distributed computing tasks.
h1 instance type: HDD-backed instance, balanced for compute and memory, used for distributed file systems and data processing applications.

Choosing the Right Instance

AWS now offers a diverse array of EC2 instance types catering to varied applications.
For beginners, starting with T3 or M5 instances is generally recommended for a good balance of performance and cost-efficiency.

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Explore the fundamentals of cloud computing with a focus on AWS services. This quiz covers the transition from traditional server management to serverless computing options like AWS Lambda and Fargate. Test your knowledge on how enterprises manage their IT budgets while innovating with cloud solutions.